(This article contains spoilers for the first four chapters of “City of Shadows”)
Netflix brings Aro Sáinz de la Maza’s novel to the screen city of shadowsthe crime thriller that follows a serial killer in Barcelona, who commits his crimes in iconic Gaudí buildings. Its protagonist is the inspector Milo Malart (Isak Ferriz)so far suspended for indiscipline in the Mossos, who returns to the police to work on this case accompanied by Rebeca Garrido (Verónica Echegui)a fellow psychology expert.
From a first crime in comment La Pedrera – Casa Milà until the kidnapping of one of the key figures in the investigation. The first episodes of city of shadows They grow in rhythm and interest as they progress and deliver to us the last work of Verónica Echegui, recently deceased, which, as always, is impeccable. We tell you what we thought of the first four chapters, starting now with another SPOILERS.
Gaudi’s shadow
Directed by Jorge Torregosa (The body on fire, Fariña), which mainly attracts the attention of city of shadows East the choice to build its entire plot around a key figure for all Barcelonans: that of Antoni Gaudíits most famous architect and greatest representative of Catalan modernism. Thus, with clear references such as The Da Vinci Code either angels and demonsfiction takes us through unique temples in the world like La Pedrera – Casa Milà, Palau Güell, Park Güell or the Crypt of Colonia Güell, which are of great importance and those who offer us their history and their symbolism.
The assassin from the City of Shadows decides to ritually sacrifice his victims in these Gaudí buildings after subjecting them to the torture of not eating or drinking for five days. He signs with a G, which could imply his connection to Freemasonry. The murdered are big businessmen from Barcelona who They would be linked to corruption and urban speculation, so the criminal could be one or more neighbors from a modest neighborhood. affected by all the measures taken against them, now seeking revenge. Will all this also have to do with the suicide of Milo’s nephew?
Barcelona, one more character
Place your plot in 2010, during the week when that Pope Benedict XVI went to Barcelona for the act of consecration of the Sagrada Familia, city of shadows not only does it highlight and examine the work of Gaudí, but it extrapolates its analysis to the history of the entire city of Barcelona, which underwent a total transformation for the 1992 Olympic Games.. Barcelona opened up to the sea, as well as to all its buildings, avenues, streets and squares, as well as to the new Olympic Village. In this way, For years, the city became a business that caused thousands of residents to lose their homes. for the benefit of new construction.
To tell all this, the fiction mixes its narrative with real archive images that illustrate and help to understand everything that the city has experienced during these years, thus forming an excellent history lesson for all audiences and fulfilling more than its cultural function. The city grew and shone, yes, but many were influenced by businessmen and builders like the fictional characters. Painted (Jordi Reverté Verges) and Torrens (Jordi Bosch)first victims of Gaudí’s shadow murderer.
Thus, the series also an x-ray of the inhabitants of Barcelona, not only the rich, but also the poor and all those neighbors who were forced to leave their homes by urban expansion, echoing this social injustice perhaps forgotten by many. This workers’ struggle and anti-system resistance is present in the character of Joan Grau (Quim Ávila), who, although he does not appear to be the murderer, approves and supports everything he does.
A top casting
Despite have a somewhat weak beginning in which it is difficult to become attached to the protagonists or get hooked on the plot, city of shadows It is supported by leading players who greatly increase its quality. It is true that the character of Milo Malart is full of nuances and has a traumatic past, but his first meetings with Rebeca Garrido are quite cold and soulless.even if this changes little by little as the episodes develop, just like the eventful nature of the plot.
The same thing happens with the character of Verónica Echegui, whose character is quite laconic in the first chapters, although it is true that her shell breaks throughout the plot. SO, The actress, who died on August 24, once again demonstrates with this legacy her solvency and her versatility to play all types of characters.also to this cold and impenetrable police, it will forever highlight her as one of the finest performers of her generation.
Alongside Férriz and Echegui are heavyweights like Ana Wanegerwho plays Susana Cabrera, the judge in charge of the case, or Manolo Solowho plays an incisive journalist with questionable morals (and who also brings a light comic relief to the fiction), who is capable of anything to make the news. They also appear as secondary Irene Montalà, María Adánez or, as a final surprise, Marc Clotet, among those involved in the murders.
The series is developing between thriller and history, posing interesting dilemmas about the morality of the journalist, the police, the businessman, the worker. Who decides whether someone deserves to die or not? Who gives you the power to exercise violence? At the end of his fourth chapter, he also relates the entire plot to cases of sexual abuse of minors in the church and in Catholic schools.
After the first two murders and the last kidnapping of Judge Cabrera, everything rushes towards the act of the Sagrada Familia with Pope Benedict XVI, because a crime during an event of this magnitude would be extremely media and exposed and would put the entire city under control. Who are the murderers? Is it a personal reason or more social? The series gains pace and interest as the chapters go by and we hope that it will end on a high note. Premieres this Friday, December 12 on Netflix.
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